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The council is launching a new social media campaign around the key message of ‘Do you know your Bin Collection Day is Changing?’ to let people know about the changes. There will also be roadshows and a new bin collection calendar.

Extreme financial pressure

Councillor Liz Terry, Reading’s lead member for neighbourhoods, said: “The council is beginning a major public information campaign to ensure residents are aware of the changes that will come into effect in February 2017.

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“The bin collection service affects every household in the borough which is why we want to make sure we introduce these changes properly and give people all the information they need to help us deliver this vital service. By starting this campaign three months before the changes come into effect, we aim to give people plenty of notice.

“These measures are being introduced to help the council cope with the growing pressure being put on the waste operations service at a time of extreme financial pressure, but just as important is to ensure the maximum possible amount of household waste is recycled.

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Other challenges include the annual rise in landfill tax, the fluctuating prices of recycled materials and the threat of heavy fines for any authority that does not meet a 50 per cent recycling target by 2020.

Efforts are being made to reduce the amount of recyclable items put in main bins, with staff at Smallmead and Longshot Lane tips rummaging through bags in search of recyclable items .

In March getreading revealed the council’s recycling rates are below the national average at just 33 per cent , so it has a challenge on its hands to reach 50 per cent in the next three years.

Reading Borough Council is pushing for more recycling to be done at the Smallmead centre (Photo: Google Maps)

As part of the campaign, people will be reminded what can be recycled, like mixed paper and card, food tins and drink cans and plastic bottles without lids.

Do you know what can go in your bins?

On top of this, earlier this year an annual £50 green waste charge was agreed upon for anyone wanting garden rubbish collected from their bin - £15 for garden waste bags. This will come into effect next April.